CLARKESVILLE — Fire and medical personnel never know what they will encounter during their shift, as Habersham County Emergency Services employees found Wednesday.

HCES personnel assisted a Clarkesville resident when that person’s horse, who was blind, fell into a creek and became stuck, said Emergency Services Director Chad Black.

“Just after lunch, we received a call for assistance that a horse who was blind had fallen into a creek and was unable to extricate itself,” Black said. “It had become stuck. Our battalion chief and Engine 9 responded.”

Before units arrived, the horse owner used haybales to prop up the animal’s head to keep it out of the water.

“Units assisted the owner and a veterinarian that was on scene with removing the animal after numerous attempts,” Black said. “After numerous attempts, they finally were able to use a large tow strap and a tractor that was on scene to get the animal to safety.”

That two-hour rescue occurred on Wall Bridge Loop off Wall Bridge Road north of Clarkesville.

Black said that type animal rescue is not common for the fire and medical personnel of Habersham County Emergency Services.

“We get very few of those calls,” Black said. “Even though it’s an animal and not a human, we are going to respond and going to do everything we can. Most people, if they’re like me and pets, those are part of your family, and we have a duty to act on something like that as well.”

While Black said assisting with animal rescues is an important part of what HCES personnel do, other emergency calls still take priority.

“We do keep trucks in service so that if a call comes in for assistance — whether it be a fire, medical call, or other — we would have to respond to that,” Black said. “But we are committed to doing everything we can when it’s an animal.”

A petition filed by Rep. Dan Gasaway to contest the results of the May 22 Republican Party Primary for Georgia House District 28 will be allowed to proceed after a judge ordered that the case be assigned the date and time of its first filing attempt.